High levels of PFOS in eggs of three bird species in the neighbourhood of a fluoro-chemical plant

•We measured in 2006 PFOS levels in the eggs of three bird species breeding in a PFOS hotspot.•We reported some of the highest PFOS levels ever measured in wildlife to date.•We found interspecific differences in PFOS levels among species.•Feeding habits could play an important role in the PFOS exposure in birds.•PFOS levels in Northern lapwing eggs decreased with distance from the fluoro-chemical plant.

We studied perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) levels in the eggs of three primarily invertivorous bird species sampled in 2006 near a fluoro-chemical plant: the great tit (Parus major), the northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) and the Mediterranean gull (Larus melanocephalus). Our study reported some of the highest PFOS levels ever measured in wildlife to date (i.e. up to 46182 ng/g ww in lapwing eggs). A pronounced decrease in PFOS concentration in the Northern lapwing eggs with distance from the fluoro-chemical plant was found. A similar relationship was found for the great tit, with eggs being collected close to the fluoro-chemical plant having significantly higher PFOS levels than eggs collected 1700 m further away. When comparing the PFOS levels in eggs for the three species, collected between 1700 and 5500 m no significant differences were observed. In addition, when comparing PFOS levels in eggs between Northern lapwing and great tits closer to the plant (900-1700 m) no significant differences were found neither. Despite the high levels found in great tit eggs, plasmatic biochemical biomarker responses did not appear to be affected.

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